Bloomsbury Summer School
Fascinated by ancient civilisations?
We offer anyone with any level of knowledge, inspiring short courses on ancient Egypt and other areas of the ancient world.
2025 Course timetable
Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August
HIEROGLYPHS FOR BEGINNERS (in person)
Course Director: Mr Kit Devine (Independent)
Monday 28 July
10:30* – 11:00
Students gather in the BSS Common Room
11:00 – 11:30
BSS Director’s Welcome Address
11:30 – 13:00
1. Explanation: Our first signs and first words
Welcome Lunch in BSS Common Room (14:00 Short optional tour of UCL with the Director)
14:30 – 15:45
2. Explanation: What are the ‘other’ signs?
16:15 – 17:30
3. Guided Reading and Wrap Up
17:45
Non-BSS event: Get together with fellow students for a drink in the Woolf and Whistle Bar on the ground floor of the Tavistock Hotel
Tuesday 29 July
10:00 – 11:15
4. Explanation: How to read some basic phrases
11:45 – 13:00
5. Guided Reading
14:15 – 15:30
6. Explanation: What the offering cult says about you
16:00 – 17:15
7. Guided Reading and Wrap Up
17:15 – 18:30
BSS Social on Common Room balcony
Wednesday 30 July
10:00 – 11:15
8. Explanation: What is the offering formula?
11:45 – 13:00
9. Guided Reading
14:15 – 15:30
10. Explanation: Offering ‘everything perfect and pure’
16:00 – 17:15
11. Guided Reading and Wrap Up
17:30
Non-BSS event: Get together with fellow students for dinner at Poppadom Indian Kitchen in the Tavistock Hotel
Thursday 21 July
10:00 – 11:15
12. Explanation: Kings’ names and what they tell us
11:45 – 13:00
13. Guided Reading
14:15 – 15:30
14. Explanation: Putting a date on a monument
16:00 – 17:15
15. Guided Reading and Wrap Up
Friday 1 August
10:00 – 11:15
16. Explanation: Scenes and how to describe them
11:45 – 13:00
17. Guided Reading
14:15 – 15:30
18. Explanation: Looking at Abydos
16:00 – 17:15
19. End-of-course Wrap Up
17:15 – 19:00
End-of-Course drinks party (you are welcome to invite guests)
* All times are London UK time.
NB: Timetables, once published, are unlikely to change, but remain provisional until the first day of the course.